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Training camp opened for some NFL teams last week. For everyone else, camp opens this week. That means it’s the best time for some final predictions ahead of the upcoming 2023 NFL season.
Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports recently made his predictions for the upcoming season. No surprise Davis has the Philadelphia Eagles repeating as NFC East champions. If that holds, it would be the first time since 2004 that an NFC East team repeated as the division champion.
Davis has the Eagles going 12-5, three games ahead of the second-place Dallas Cowboys [9-8]. In third place, Davis chooses the Washington Commanders ahead of the New York Giants.
He picks the Commanders to go 7-10 and the Giants 6-11. Here’s his assessment of Washington:
There’s already a palpable sense of relief from the city and even players like WR Terry McLaurin following the departure of disgraced and disgraceful former owner Dan Snyder. That alone should lift what had become a perpetual cloud over a locker room and staff constantly forced to answer questions about the controversies sparked by Snyder. Between the lines, Washington has gone 22-27-1 in three regular seasons under HC Ron Rivera. With unproven second-year QB Sam Howell projected to start, hard to envision much more than another seven or eight victories … though this team might resemble the 2022 Jets (7-10), an otherwise imposing roster perhaps just a proven quarterback away from immediate contention.
It’s difficult to disagree with Davis here. There are so many variables for the Commanders in 2023. The unknown of Sam Howell could have Washington winning anywhere from five to 10 games.
One thing is certain; things are headed in the right direction with Snyder no longer involved.